Information for Students

St. Tom’s Student Ministry Team (SMT) are college students who work  with the  Pastoral Team, to plan events and activities especially for  the college students. They offer opportunities for prayer, service, spiritual growth, outreach, understanding our faith, and lots of  socials and just plain FUN.  Our Student Ministers offer hospitality at St. Tom's on the weekends and at More at Midweek. 

    

St. Tom's SMT for 2007-08 include:  

          

Joe  Coburn                 JoCo67777@aol.com 

   

Dan Ebenhoeh          daniel.j.ebenhoeh@wmich.edu                                                          

 

Lisa Krupp                Lkkrupp14@yahoo.com

 

Kassie Johnston    k06kj02@kzoo.edu

 

Sally Pohlman       s4pohlma@wmich.edu

                                                                            

Shannon Ritzer     s5ritzer@wmich.edu

 

Sarah Rivard          sarah.j.rivard@wmich.edu

 

Anastasia Schauer     anastasia.e.schauer@wmich.edu

 

Tony Walker          anthony.j.walker@wmich.edu

 

Ben Williams       benjamin.j11.williams@wmich.edu

 

  


Student Registration – Students register with the parish by filling out a student census card each fall. The cards are distributed before all the Masses for several weeks in September, and then are available in the vestibule of church. The cards are available again when the new semester begins, as some students change addresses, or return from study abroad. From the information you give us about yourself, we develop a database that enables us to keep you informed about our events that interest you.

More at Midweek (M@M) is a regular Wednesday night  gathering at St. Tom’s on the Park for all college students. Beginning with free pizza at 8:30 p.m. followed by a planned activity, topic, or presentation, MORE AT MIDWEEK offers college students a place to meet new friends, to take a mid-week break from studying, to experience some faith sharing, and to have some fun. So, join us on Wednesday nights!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday Suppers – We know students are hungry a lot. St. Tom's is about feeding students, spiritually and physically. So every Sunday night during the WMU semester (except holiday weekends) we offer supper for college students and young adults. . For only $3.00, you get a hot entrée --home cooked (vegetarian option is available), salad, beverage, and dessert . The food is prepared and served by St. Tom’s permanent residents, who know how hungry young adults can get for a home cooked meal. Supper is served from 6:30 -- 7:00 p.m. So, come for the 5:30 p.m. Mass and stay for supper, or come and eat, then stay for the 7:30 p.m. Mass. And bring your roommates and friends. There's enough for everybody!

      Sunday Suppers are a favorite reason for students
                  to gather at St. Tom's on Sunday nights.


Transportation from WMU to St. Tom’s  During the fall and winter semesters, we will provide a ride for WMU students before and after both Sunday night Masses. Routes begin at about 5:10 and 7:10 p.m. The St. Tom’s white van will make stops at the parish office (corner of Monroe and Lovell) Valley 1 service delivery bay, Valley 2 service delivery bay, Fox-Eldridge main entrance, and the Bernhard Center bookstore entrance. For the ride home, we will drop you off at your door anywhere on the WMU campus. This is especially helpful for student living in the valleys, the farthest residence halls from St. Tom’s.    If you live off campus and need a ride, call our office and we will work with you to coordinate a volunteer driver.

Kalamazoo College students, we hope you will find us at our temporary site, 414 W. South Street, on the corner of South and Park Streets, on Bronson Park. We will pick up K students at our parish office parking pad, at 5:10 and 7:10 pm for the two Sunday evening Masses. Note: the 5:30 Mass is only held when WMU is in session. The 7:30 pm Mass is held year-round.

Student Retreats are offered twice a year, fall and winter. These Friday night through Sunday afternoon retreats are planned and presented by college students for college students. They are intended to build the faith community as they allow students to take a closer look at their relationships with God, themselves, and their neighbor. Our Winter 2008 Retreat is scheduled for Feb. 15-17, 2008 at Pretty Lake Vacation Camp.


 

 

 

 

 

 


Ruvie and the whole group of Filipino students who prepared an authentic Filipino dinner for our Sunday Supper.

Care Packages or “goodie bags” are prepared by St. Tom’s permanent residents and distributed to the college students before WMU’s and K’s exam week each semester. Also, at the beginning of WMU’s fall and winter term exam weeks,

 

 

 


 


Social Justice -- St. Tom’s works with United Campus Ministry to sponsor four different registered student organizations on Western’s campus. Students are welcome to join us each Tuesday in the Dialogue Room of Kanley Chapel for:

  • 5:30 p.m. Habitat for Humanity – planning and sign up for the Saturday work days;
  • 6:30 p.m. An Uncommon Bible Study - reading the Gospel of Mark and applying it to our lives;
  • 8:30 p.m. Volunteering with Kids – planning for both after school and Saturday programs with kids.

 
Pax Christi  offers a nonviolent alternative to settling differences by armed violence or the threat of it. In a world that too often defines "justice" as "revenge", Pax Christ dares to break the cycle of violence by fostering reconciliation. Where countries invest more money in weapons than in the wellbeing of their people, Pax Christ calls individuals to disarm their hearts and work toward a world free of nuclear and conventional weapons.

St. Tom's has joined with other Catholic parishes in Kalamazoo, to form Pax Christi Kalamazoo, open to anyone interested in learning more about Pax Christi, or about living peacefully in our culture.



Alternative Spring Break – Many students participate in alternative spring break trips. St. Tom’s offers students the chance to visit our sister parish in San Salvador, to experience a different culture first hand. The trip is usually taken around the first week of March, during WMU's spring break. If you are interested in participating, contact our office to get your name on the list.



Ministry Potential Discerner -- Everyone is called to a unique ministry by virtue of Baptism. Thousands of potential vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and spiritual leadership are simply not identified and called forth. The MPD Self-Assessment Survey is a comprehensive spiritual evaluation tool that satisfies the first step in the vocation process – identification. This survey is not a test, but a 39-question personal evaluation that will help you learn more about yourself, your religiosity, and your future. Take the MPD on line: www.mpdinc.org

For people who have thoughts or questions about vocations in the Catholic Church, or how one decides or "discerns" whether one has a vocation, click on www.vocationsplacement.org